Apple's patent application aims for on-the-go recharging for the Apple iPad using the Smart Cover

Apple has filed with the USPTO seeking a patent on "Integrated inductive charging in protective cover," which is a Smart Cover for the Apple iPad featuring built in wireless charging capabilities. In this case, a Smart Cover would contain the power transmitter and in some variants, also have the batteries embedded right in the padding for wireless charging of your Apple iPad on the fly. The patent was originally filed in September 2011 with Justin Richard Wodrich and Stephen Robert McClure as the inventors.

To pass the power into the tablet as effectively and efficiently as possible, the Apple iPad would have a receiver that would be coupled with the transmitter in the Smart Cover using the magnets in the latter to perfectly align the two. Charging wouldn't start until the flap is closed, covering the display. Another part of the application describes the table being able to automatically start seeking power from the Smart Cover when the slate is not plugged into an outlet.

"In the described embodiments, the body portion includes an inductive power transmitter arranged to wirelessly pass power to a corresponding inductive power receiver unit disposed within the tablet device by inductively coupling, at least a first magnetic element, and at least a second magnetic element used to secure the body portion to the display in a closed configuration."-from Apple's patent application, "Integrated inductive charging in protective cover."

The Smart Cover itself does need to be charged in order to power up the embedded batteries. But solar panels are also placed on the outside to collect energy while the user is out and about.

Besides having to add the necessary technology to the Smart Cover, the Apple iPad itself would need to be reconfigured to add the inductive charging circuitry mentioned in the patent, but not included in the current build of the device.

Not sure this is innovation. solar charge covers already exist in the market, and wireless charging can be found in in Nokia and samsung phones. Putting these two things together is not quite innovation.

The Ipad as it is now cannot wireless charge. but the Nokia and samsung phones can. If someone made a solar charge cover with Qi tech for the Galaxy S3 it could do it now.

Im guessing they realized nobody had the patent on a tablet case that has an induction charger built in. Wonder if they will sue energizer for making one when that happens since they have previously made them for the some iphones.

Maybe this will get the ball rolling on adding this to more products than having to use a stand like some tablets have. And they have the patent for that too.....run HP run

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